To be perfectly honest, because I am primarily a *doubler* I need to know that my reeds will play in an "expected" way each time I pick up a horn. I can't "hope" that they won't be warped and dried out. I can't expect any more than the worst case scenario. For this reason I have been using Bari synthetic reeds on sax since 1987 and Legere reeds on clarinet since 2003.

Regardless of what I'm using now, though, I still believe in developing the skill of reedworking in my students. It can  increase the usability of reeds  by at least 75% and can give invaluable confidence to a player. BTW, I *also* adjust every synthetic reed I use - synthetic reeds require a fraction of the adjustment a natural cane reed requires to gain the same result, but your investment in time and money will last far longer once you learn how to play confidently on these reeds.

The right tools are a must -- and fortunately, investing in a really good quality reed knife is the main thing you will need (I like Bhosys). It's also a good idea to have a nice Cordier reed trimmer - especially when you're new to reed adjusting and are blowing through reeds (clipping an "over-adjusted" reed can sometimes be like a "do-over").

There are several good books and guides on reedworking. There is also a lot of information on the internet about the subject - But remember, there is no substitute for sitting and learning reed adjusting techniques from a skilled teacher. This is where you cut your "trial & error" time down to the minimum while building the skills necessary to whip that mediocre reed into shape.